Perishables​​​​​​​ Fly Fresh From Africa

Over the years, Africa's horticultural and floricultural produce has gained popularity in the international markets due to the quality and variety that the continent has to offer. While there is tremendous potential for the air freight industry for the transportation of perishables, there is an increasing need for African countries to upgrade and invest in better cool chain facilities.

 

 

- Twinkle Sahita

The world’s appetite for fresh products is growing, owing to constantly changing consumer behavior in Western countries and rising incomes and increasing populations. The perishables industry is generally recession proof. Even during crisis times, when imports tend to diminish as consumers spend less, the demand for perishables, particularly fresh and frozen meat and fish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products, is high.

Imagine a perishable reaching to the destination with its freshness lost. Time is of the essence to ensure perishables such as flowers, fruits and vegetables, fish, meat, and other products reach their destinations without losing its shelf life. Success in the perishables industry depends on a logistics provider that can ensure products are safely and efficiently steered through the cool chain on the way to their final destination. This is where air freight plays a key role.

Transported volumes in the perishables industry are growing year on year,while they stagnate or shrink in other industries.

Amongst all the economies of the world, the emerging economy of Africa is a major perishable market. Kenya’s flower business, for example, is flourishing, with expected annual export growth rates of around 5 percent. We are seeing regional differences in perishable trends across markets in Africa. In East Africa, where the majority of perishables are horticultural and floricultural; we are seeing a movement from where previously buyers would converge in Amsterdam and auction there, to countries buying directly from farmers in Kenya. This presents a substantial area for growth as logistics channels are streamlined to facilitate these new purchasing habits.